. . . And if there is no resurrection, “Let’s feast and drink, for tomorrow we die!” Don’t be fooled by those who say such things, for “bad company corrupts good character.” Think carefully about what is right, and stop sinning. For to your shame I say that some of you don’t know God at all.
1 Corinthians 15:33-34
Paul is still talking about the same thing. In the light of 1Corinthians 15:12 – But tell me this—since we preach that Christ rose from the dead, why are some of you saying there will be no resurrection of the dead?
There was group claiming that Christ had not been raised because there was no such thing as resurrection from the dead. Paul has been arguing against that premise to the point where he says if there is no resurrection then eat drink and be merry for tomorrow we die. Having said that, he “comes back to sanity” and says don’t be fooled by those who say these things. What things? That there is no resurrection and we should throw off restraint and live for today. Paul says don’t be fooled by these comments. Bad company corrupts good character! Choose your friends well. Those you have around you will influence who you are and what you will do. NO ONE is immune to this principle. Paul says “think carefully about what is right and stop sinning.”
Now we are getting down to the essential problem of the Corinthians “believers”. Many don’t know God! With some major holes in their faith in terms of not believing in the resurrection, they are really no different from the society around them. A society that was given over to unrestrained pursuit of pleasure. At beginning of our study of the Corinthian letters (Bible Gem 304) we saw that Corinth was an especially licentious city. Indeed, one of the Greek verbs for fornicate was korinthiazomaia, a word derived from the city’s name. Strabo reported 1,000 sacred prostitutes in the temple of Aphrodite on the Acrocorinth, No doubt Corinth, like other large port cities, had plenty of prostitutes to service the sailors. Paul has already addressed issues within the church related to sexual sin. It is clear that one of the problems the Corinthians faced was unbridled lust in the midst of their everyday life. They were surrounded with sexual sin every way they looked.
But note too how our beliefs affect our behaviour. There is a gap in the faith of some of them – the inability to believe that Jesus Christ did indeed rise from the dead. it is clear this fact is foundational to a healthy Christian perspective. As Paul has said, if you dont beleive in the resurrection of Christ then the logical next step is to conclude there is no coming resurrection for the believers. If that is true then what our society is telling us – enjoy life to the full because life this side of the grave is the only life you will have – is strong incentive to eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die. Little wonder Paul said “Don’t be fooled by those who say such things, for ‘bad company corrupts good character’. Think carefully about what is right and stop sinning.”
Not much different from society these days is it? Your beliefs do matter. Think about it carefully.
Choose your rut well, you will likely be in it for the next 20 kilometres. Sign on a gravel road – equally valid as an adage for life.
Anon
Your behaviour is what you believe; all the rest is just talk.
Ian Vail
A dead thing can go with the stream, but only a living thing can go against it.
G. K. Chesterton
If You Have Integrity, Nothing Else Matters. If You Don’t Have Integrity, Nothing Else Matters.
Alan K. Simpson
Your PRIORITIES are proven by your actions; not by your intentions. It’s time to let your life do the talking!
Brian Houston